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Nay Pyi Taw, 25th March 2015 - The 13th Senior ASEAN Officials Responsible for Information Meeting-13th SOMRI was held at Ngwehsaung Yacht Club and Resort in Ayeyawady Region on Wednesday.Present at the meeting were Union Minister for Information U Ye Htut, Ayeyawady Region Security and Border Affairs Minister Col Maung Maung Win, Region Development Affairs Minister U Kyaw Win Naing, senior information officials from ASEAN countries and delegates and guests.
The meeting commenced with the ASEAN Anthem before saluting the late first Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, one of the founding leaders of the ASEAN.
Then, Union Minister for Information U Ye Htut delivered an opening speech and posed for documentary photos with the senior information officials from ASEAN countries.The meeting focused on Post-2015 Vision of the ASEAN Community, the draft for 2025 Vision of the ASEAN Community, timeframe for strategic plans between 2016 and 2025 and the ASEAN Communication Master Plan.
In th…

The artefact, a bronze ritual wine vessel (pic below) that dates back to the Shang dynasty, was discovered in the Brunei river by a fisherman. It offers a glimpse of the historical ties between Brunei and China earlier than predicted. Haji Mohd Rozan bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos when contacted by the Bulletin shared his story on the historic find.

He recalled, “The artefact came from an individual who accidentally found the jue in his net while fishing in the Brunei River. He kept it but did not know the significance of his discovery.”

Known as a passionate collector, Haji Mohd Rozan bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos said, “Someone approached me and offered the artefact for sale. I then researched it and found that…

This exhibition is organized jointly by the Quanzhou Maritime Museum and the Brunei Museums Department under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. It is a showcase of the linkage between China and Southeast Asia including Brunei since ancient times.

Located in northwest of Borneo, Brunei Darussalam is known to be a land of beauty and mystery. Historically, China and Brunei have enjoyed a close relationship. It is believed by some scholars that during the period of the West Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-9 A.D.), traders from China and Brunei began their interaction. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), contacts between the two countries were officially established. Commercial and cultural exchanges expanded rapidly between the two sides in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and reac…

THE highly-anticipated opening of the Brunei Darussalam Maritime Museum, which houses significant artefacts, was officially launched by the Deputy Sultan His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, yesterday.

Located on the banks of the historic Brunei River, where the ancient city of Brunei was positioned from the 14th to 17th century, the latest tourism attraction is built on a 8.74 hectare of land with a cost of $5 million under the 10th National Development Plan.

Divided into three galleries, the exhibition is designed to resemble the front view of a ship, which demonstrates the Sultanate’s role as a centre of flourishing trade in the ancient times.

Their Majesties were greeted on arrival at the Istana Besar Johor by Dato’ Abdul Rahim bin Ramli, Yang Di-Pertua of the Johor Council of Royal Court, before proceeding to the Holding Room at Istana Besar Johor, said a statement from Brunei’s Prime Minister’s Office.

From the Holding Room, Their Majesties together with the Malay rulers, heads of Malaysian states, the Prime Minister of Malaysia and spouse and other dignitaries proceeded to Bilik Singgahsana for the coronation.

His Royal Highness Sultan Ibrahim and Her Royal Highness Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, Permaisuri of Johor, arrived and the ‘Lagu Bangsa Johor’ anthem was played.

HER Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah yesterday urged the youth to lead a healthy lifestyle as governments and communities express mounting concern over the spread of diseases around the world.

In her sabda at the opening of the 11th Borneo Global Issues Conference (BGIC) at the International Convenction Centre (ICC), the princess reminded the youth to “not lose sight of lifestyle-related health conditions and diseases that are more likely to have a direct impact on their lives”.

The four-day student-run event, organised by the International School Brunei (ISB), brought together over 200 pupils from 23 secondary schools nationwide to participate in discussions and debates based on the Model United Nations (MUN) concept.

Commenting on this year’s theme of ‘Combating World Diseases’, the BGIC royal patron hoped the participants will realise the impact of their lifestyle decisions upon the nation’s hea…

HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam said yesterday that members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) should give priority to discussions on employment opportunities for the locals, entrepreneurship development and efforts to boost the country’s economic fundamentals amid the uncertainties in the global economy.

In a titah at the opening ceremony of the 11th Session of LegCo, His Majesty also urged the LegCo members to instil a positive attitude in the people to enable them to take actions that are in line with the current demands and also encourage self-sufficiency rather than dependence on assistance.

His Majesty said particular attention should be given to bolster the country’s economic fundamentals because of the signs of decline in the global economy such as the falling oil prices.

The monarch emphasised the need to enhance the public sector to ensure a more conducive business and economic environment.

ROAD users can now use the six-kilometre Jerudong-Tungku Link Road after construction was completed and officially opened yesterday.

The $17.7 million link road is one of the projects under the 10th National Development Plan, or also known as RKN-10, for the provision of alternative route and connecting two main roads namely Jalan Jerudong (Simpang 396) and Jalan Rakyat Jati Rimba, the Ministry of Development said in a statement.

The ministry said the project, which was started in 2009, involved earthworks and drainage system as the main item in the scope of works in the first phase as a separate contract costing $12.8 million.

The second phase involved the construction of road pavement which was started in 2013 undertaken by local contractor Pro-Builder Sdn Bhd.

The scope of work under the second phase of the project included re-surfacing the nine-kilometre stretch from Simpang 396 of Jalan Jerudong leading to Simpang 324 of Rimba Utara Link Road and pa…

LOCAL soy producer Hana Soy & World Sdn Bhd will begin exporting its ground soy paste to Asian markets in August, said its vice-president yesterday.

“In six months’ time, we’re planning to export our mother soya, which is an intermediate product derived from the grinding process for our soy drink,” said Wan Krisnizaha Hj Osman.

The company’s factory is planning to export the soy paste to international distributors in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan, she said.

She was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a visit by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, to the factory yesterday.

Asked about the selling point of the soy paste, Wan Krisnizaha said it can be used for cooking.

“If you want to open a donut business, for example, you can use this product…let’s just say as a substitute for santan (coconut milk),” she said.

The book, which contains 168 pages contains information about the park, and is filled with pictures of the surroundings and its inhabitants, particularly the birds.

In the book, His Royal Highness said that for us in Brunei Darussalam, for the past 30 years, everything that is contained in the ASEAN Heritage Park concept is represented by the lake known as Tasek Merimbun.

“Like the forests, rivers, hills, valleys, peaks and coastline that surround us, it is part of our natural habitat.”

The author of the book is the Museum’s Curator of Natural History and Manager of Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Omar Ali who worked with photographer Hj Ilham Rohaidi Hj Mashud.

“Through this coffee-table book, I hope to share the natural wonders of Tasek Merimbun and give a pictur…

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, presented land grants and house keys to 594 recipients under the Bukit Beruang National Housing Scheme in Tutong yesterday.

The handing over ceremony was held at the Ma’had Islam Brunei.

Saifullizan has been living in the housing facility provided at the Lumut Primary School.

Upon receiving his new house in Tutong, the 43-year-old is now looking at enrolling his four children to schools nearby the area as they are currently still studying in a school in Kuala Belait.

“With the new house, besides from it being comfortable, I am also a lot closer to my family members who mostly live in Kg Kiudang,” he said.

“Furthermore, it is now easier for us as we only have to spend on renovation because the payment of the house is very affordable.

THE ceremonial customs of the Brunei Malays or Adat Istiadat Melayu Brunei is keeping in line with the country's philosophy of Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB or Malay Muslim Monarchy), and is as relevant today as it has ever been.

“Bruneians should familiarise themselves regarding the Bahasa Dalam or Royal Court language as well as Adat Istiadat,” said Assistant Chief of Royal Customs and Traditions Pg Dr Hidop Pg Hj Samsuddin, recently, in a forum dedicated to the importance of the royal court language.

Adat istiadat is the base for nationhood, through its continued practice, and also a form of heritage that reflects a nation's identity.

The appropriate manner of teaching adat istiadat should be within homes, where parents and guardians are expected to teach their children of the MIB philosophy.

“Every race in the world has its own customs. These customs differ from one another because they have been created according to di…